Council approves ADA?study

DUNKIRK — City council agreed to a study to see where the city lacks compliance with Title VI and the Americans With Disabilities Act.
At its meeting Monday, Dunkirk City Council also got an update on an upcoming sewer project, heard from a representative from Waste Management and passed a rezoning resolution for a longtime car dealership.
After receiving a notice from Indiana Department of Transportation that the city is not compliant in some areas, council approved paying Fleis & Vandenbrink Engineering $9,380 to conduct a study of all city buildings to see if updates need to be made to make them handicapped accessible and then develop a Title VI Implementation Plan to be used in the future. The study is required by INDOT and is due by March 18.
Jack Robbins said cities in Jay County were first asked to do the study in 2014 but INDOT didn’t follow through.
“There was no push and then all of a sudden, bam,” Robbins said.
Having the plan will help the city when trying to obtain grants, as well as the Stellar Communities designation.
“We may be able to work this in with our Stellar designation plan to gather all these corrective actions within that plan,” Mayor Gene Ritter said. “Could end up getting some grants out of this.”
Mitch Hansel of Fleis & Vandenbrink also said INDOT offers grants for such things as sidewalks.
Council approved two options Hansel offered for the design of the sewer project to be done at Layne Addition. The options include whether or not to add a clean out at the right of way lines and whether to run a camera through the lines or use another test to check to make sure everything has been installed properly.
Melinda Antell of Waste Management reminded council that the city is in its third year of a five-year contract.
Prices in the contract for the fourth and fifth optional years will be honored if the city continues to use Waste Management for trash pick-up.
Ordinance 2016-01 was approved for rezoning for a property at 201 E. Commerce St. for Fuqua Chrysler Dodge Jeep that is being used as a car lot. A house on the property was recently torn down.
In other business, Tom Johnson, Jesse Bivens, Brian Jessup, Jack Robbins and Lisa Street:
•Agreed to pay $100 to renew its membership with Jay County Chamber of Commerce.
•Approved a $175 donation to West Jay Community Center for its soccer program.
•OK’d changes to its Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual for the Family Medical Leave Act, nepotism and sexual harassment. Council had met in executive session Feb. 15 to discusses the updates.
•Heard that Johnson has built four new Christmas light displays for Dunkirk City Park.
•Approved a water bill adjustment for $346.52 for a property at 515 Blackford Ave. because of an underground leak, and denied an adjustment at 220 W. Center St. because the leak wasn’t underground.
•Were informed by the mayor that $60.20 was spent on a sign for the animal control officer’s vehicle.
•Approved paying $1,522.70 to Cargill for road salt.
•Were reminded that the mayor’s office hours are from 9 a.m. to noon the first and third Saturday of each month. Ritter also noted that George’s Variety and Tan is again open for business.
•Received a copy of municipal insurance for the city from Barnum and Brown Insurance to check with other companies to see if they are receiving the best deal.
•Agreed to pay claims of $127,839.48.